When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

In the past 30 years, light artists have reimagined an art form that has always had the ability to turn the night sky, or a simple window, into luminescence. Last fall, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts turned its southern glass wall into a parade of sound-sensing lights, Lightswarm, that changes with the movements of nearby people and things. Future Cities Lab, the San Francisco design company behind Lightswarm, has originated another notable light sculpture. Located by the YBCA's steps at 701 Mission, Murmur Wall will light up in arresting ways as it incorporates local trending search engine results and social media postings. Onlookers can offer their own contributions, which will feed into the Murmur Wall's data stream and light up the sculpture. What's trending in San Francisco? If you're walking by the YBCA, you can see firsthand — at least through light patterns that reflect the city's volatile internet habits.
Murmur Wall debuts Thursday at 6 p.m. and continues through May 31, 2017, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F. Free; 415-978-2700 or ybca.org. More

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An inconspicuous doorway off Valencia Street leads to a treasure trove of zines and 10,000-plus hours of sound and video recordings from the 1960s to the 1990s, all charting the progressive history of the Bay and its effect on global radical movements.

Monday, June 25, 2012

It's been nearly a year since Mark McGovern, the Gaelic Football player who came from Ireland to play ball here, was critically beaten during a game, and authorities have yet to file charges against the main suspect.

Patrick Power was detained shortly after McGovern was knocked to the ground during a Gaelic Football match hosted by the Gaelic Athletic Association

(GAA) last year. Power allegedly instigated the fight that put McGovern in a coma for

more than five weeks. McGovern, who came to San Francisco to play with

the Ulster Club this summer, fell to the ground and began having

seizures -- yet he had been nowhere near the ball when he collapsed.

Witnesses of the July 25 incident allegedly heard Power saying "you

won't get up from that."

Power, a Half Moon Bay resident, was suspended from the from the GAA for a reported 96 weeks, despite the fact that he was released and no criminal charges were filed against him. Part of the problem, the DA explains, is that nobody actually saw Power knock McGovern to the ground.

The DA's office is looking for anyone who was at the game that day and

possibly witnessed the incident, hoping they will tell officials what they saw.

"We have reached the 1-year anniversary of this tragic incident," said Stephanie Ong Stillman, spokeswoman for the DA. "We can only begin to understand what a tough, and arduous, rehabilitation process has been for Mr. McGovern. Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he continues to get better."

The DA's office isn't giving up, noting that it still has a few years left to prosecute someone connected to the accident.

"We encourage anyone with information to please come forward and contact the San Francisco Police Department," said Ong Stillman.

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Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"